pubic and protected service method

Hi, When ever a request comes to a servlet, the container directs it to public void service(ServletRequest req,ServletResponse res),which in turn calls protected void service(HttpServletRequest req,HttpServletResponse resp).

I understand that it is necessary to override the public service method(otherwise the class overriding HttpServlet will become abstract). Is it not possible that we directly call the protected service method,while simultaneously providing empty implementation for the public service method.